diff --git a/src/USER-REAXC/reaxc_control.cpp b/src/USER-REAXC/reaxc_control.cpp
index 39a9560f93..2902d51617 100644
--- a/src/USER-REAXC/reaxc_control.cpp
+++ b/src/USER-REAXC/reaxc_control.cpp
@@ -393,6 +393,8 @@ char Read_Control_File( char *control_file, control_params* control,
   free( tmp );
   free( s );
 
+  fclose(fp);
+
   // fprintf( stderr,"%d %d %10.5f %d %10.5f %10.5f\n",
   //   control->ensemble, control->nsteps, control->dt,
   //   control->tabulate, control->T, control->P );